The Return of The Great Landini

Last week was Landon's first time at scout camp and the first time he's been away from all of us for 6 days! I felt anxious the week before he left as we gathered and borrowed everything he would need. It was a huge blessing that the only things we needed to buy for him were a pair of hiking boots (on sale at Big 5 for $19.99), bug spray, sun screen, socks and treats. A friend from church had a great hiking pack, sleeping bag (ours is too big and not as warm), and neckerchief for him to borrow (they really saved our bacon!). By the time Monday morning rolled around, I was feeling at peace about him going.


Upon going through the camp information packet, I was very happy to see that we could send him mail while he was there. I immediately emailed all of my family members plus Michelle and Amie so that Landon would have support from home in the form of good mail while he was gone. I even sent him something before he left so it would get there early in the week.


It turns out that of the 12 pieces of mail delivered at camp during the week, he received 11 of them! What the? Granted, several of the boys had their dads there with them, so their families didn't feel the need to write, but still. He ended up receiving things from my parents, Lori, Adam, Amy & the girls, Robyn, James, Lucas, Randy and several from me and Whitney. He was thrilled of course!

This is the drawing Adam sent to Landon.

I stayed home all day Saturday so I'd be here when he returned (I wasn't sure what time he'd be back), and was baking chocolate-chip cookies when he finally arrived home around 4:00pm.

I made a new typewriter message for his return.

This is him upon returning, he was sweaty, filthy, happy and chatty.


I was highly disturbed by the state of his finger nails. He said they looked worse than were because he got dye on them when working on his Indian Lore Merit Badge. (I made sure he had an old tooth brush to scrub them with when he finally showered.)

Speaking of merit badges, he completed 10 of them!

Randy came home (he'd been working) about a half hour after Landon had arrived and gave him a bear hug which immediately reduced Landon to tears; it was the sweetest thing. I asked him why he didn't cry when I hugged him and he said, "It's the both of you here now."

He spent the next hour and a half telling us all about his camp adventures, and got choked up a couple times while sharing some of the spiritual moments. He had Randy and I both in tears as he talked about the experience of helping another troop retire 16 flags.

We are so grateful he had such a good experience and that everyone was safe and well while so far from home (they were 5 hours away in Idaho).

Yesterday at church, various leaders that had gone to scout camp came up to Randy and I said things like, "You've got a remarkable young man here" and "I fell in love with this boy, he is the most respectful young man I've ever met" and "Maybe I should send my sons mail when they go to camp." It was quite touching for us as parents.

**Thoughts??**

Comment Window Tidbit: We're heading out to Lori's work carnival today and I'm trying to mentally prepare for the sweating that will be happening. Heaven help me!